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16 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JUNE 2022 | Sun Lakes Committee Reports Master Architectural The purpose of the Architectural Standards and Guidelines is to provide guidelines to protect, preserve, and maintain the aesthetics and property values of residences at this Association. (Article XI- Architectural Standards and Guidelines) The purpose of the Master Architectural Committee (MAC) is to review each proposed improvement to ensure the proposed improvement will not be detrimental to the appearance of the development and will be in harmony with the surrounding structures and complies with the Architectural Standards.(Article III Review Criteria) LANDSCAPING FRONT AND BACKYARDS Because of the prolonged drought in California and the threats by city and state governments to ration water or to limit the times or days you can water your yard, many of you are considering re- landscaping your yards to be more drought-tolerant. Sun Lakes CC&Rs and the Architectural Standards and Guidelines may limit what drought tolerant landscaping you may do at this time. See Sec. 7.20. Section 7.20(f ) provides: "Desert-like landscaping entirely of rock, sand, dirt, etc. will not be approved for front yards." Section 7.20(g) provides: The visual aspect of the front-yard landscaping is considered very important and must have a balance between the front yard soft-scape and the front yard hard-scape. The MAC will generally look for the front yard area (not including the driveway at its original width) to have a minimum of 50 percent soft- scape. MAC may consider front yard areas with less than 50 percent soft-scape as an exception. Section 7.20(h) provides: "Hard-scape materials such as concrete, brick, masonry, tile, slate, rock, stone, etc. shall be less than 50 percent of the front yard area. The MAC may consider hard-scape in the front yard area that exceeds 50 percent when special circumstances warrant the exception." The MAC is required to abide by the existing rules and standards as set forth in section 7.20. WITH THE LIMITATIONS OF THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SAVE WATER? Before you can do any landscaping your application must be approved by the MAC (Master Architectural Committee). You may consider more hard-scape in the back yard. There is no hard-scape or soft-scape ratio for the backyard so you may use up to 100 percent hard-scape (ie; concrete, masonry, brick, slate, tile, stone, crushed granite, etc.) in backyards. If your backyard is 100 percent hard-scape, you should provide sufficient drainage. Wood-chips are not recommended as a hard-scape because they will discolor from the sun and will blow away with the winds in this area. Hard-scape can be considered partially soft-scape by planting living vegetation such as plants, bushes, flowers, desert plants, succulents, etc. in the hard-scape. This can provide the 50/50 ratio of hard-scape to soft-scape required by Section 7.20 of the Architectural Standards and Guidelines. Drip irrigation can then be used in place of sprinklers to provide water conservation. Artificial Turf is considered a soft-scape and may be used in front or backyards. See section 7.20(o) for artificial turf requirements. Although artificial turf is one of the more expensive hard-scapes, a good artificial turf is warranted for 15 to 25 years and has very little maintenance cost. It also looks like a well manicured grass lawn. Most artificial turf is dog-friendly and there is no odor or discoloration when used by dogs. If you are re-landscaping, please consider what effect the drought and possible water rationing will have on your yard. You may need more hard-scape in your backyard or you may desire a combination of hard-scape and soft-scape in your front yard. If possible, consider drip irrigation over sprinklers.

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